English abstract

Part of this text was presented by author in the inaugural speech held at the V Encuentro Ibérico EDICIC (Asociación de Investigación en Educación and Ciencia de la Información y el Caribe de Iberoamerica), Badajoz, 17-19 November 2011. After analyzing the problems of access to knowledge and the relationship between knowledge and well-being in contemporary society, the author discusses the role of libraries as a public service and an instrument of social inclusion.